Recommendations for "out of the box" books

[Cassie]

Hi! I am a children's librarian, and I work with a middle school book group that meets monthly. Each month we pick a genre or theme and offer four titles for the kids to choose from to read. We have an "Out of the Box" month coming up, and I'm looking for titles that tell stories in new and original ways. Examples: The Marvels (or any other title) by Brian Selznick, telling a story in a combination of prose and illustration; Feeling Sorry for Celia by Jaclyn Moriarty, told as a series of letters from fictitious societies commenting on the main character's choices; The Watch That Ends the Night by Allan Wolf, told in multiple styles of poetry; etc.

The requirements for our selections:
-Age appropriate. We work with 6th-8th grade, so we aim for middle grade rather than teen titles.
-Recently published. 2012-2016 publication dates, which is where I'm running into trouble with this theme! All the books I would love to do -- Sorcery and Cecelia by Patricia Wrede and Caroline Stevermer or Zorgamazoo by Robert Paul Weston -- are too old!

I'd love to hear any recommendations you have!

[Kat]

How about:
Eighth Grade Is Making Me Sick: Ginny Davis's Year In Stuff. It is told through the main character's "stuff." "Filled with Post-its, journal entries, grocery lists, hand-drawn comic strips, report cards, IMs, notes, and more, Eighth Grade Is Making Me Sick is the sometimes poignant, often hilarious, always relatable look at a year in the life of one girl, told entirely through her stuff."

[Jemima]

We read Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick here last year (maybe). I enjoyed it, but that's no recommendation! I tend to think a lot of MG books are told in 'new' ways, when others know they've been that way for years!

[Christine]

Wonder told from multiple POVs.

[Cassie]

Kat wrote: "How about:
Eighth Grade Is Making Me Sick: Ginny Davis's Year In Stuff. It is told through the main character's "stuff." "Filled with Post-its, journal entries, grocery lists, hand-..."

I know Jennifer Holm, but this title is new to me. Definitely going on the list of considerations! Thanks for the rec!

[Sam]

Do the published books have to be from a big publisher or can they be from self-published authors? I could recommend a few titles depending on your publication and genre preference.
I'd offer you my novel, but it hasn't been published yet.

[Cassie]

Sam, the books have to be able to be made available to seven to ten students, so we try to limit ourselves to books we can get that many copies of through our interlibrary loan system.

[Jemima]

Cassie, you might like to check the books on our Read 4 Review lists, as most of those authors would be happy to supply that sort of number to your students.

[Lori]

What about The Martian? I would consider this more YA level but I think it would be fine for 6th grade and up. It is told largely through the logs of the astronaut stuck on Mars.

The One and Only Ivan is told from the POV of a gorilla.

Brown Girl Dreaming and The Crossover are told in verse.

Drama (graphic novel) might work well.

Schooled has multiple POV but is from 2008

Out of My Mind has a narrator unable to communicate with others

Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures is a mix between a regular novel and a graphic novel

The Secrets to Ruling School reads like a handbook to surviving middle school.

[Sam]

I've seen kids reading the latest Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Wonder was well-received, and I just finished the first Fablehaven (of five books), the first which was published in 2006 but I think the last one was published in 2012 or 2013.

[Rebecca]

I can think of quite a few that are the "diary" format, enough that it doesn't feel very "different" any more. People have covered the others I could think of. I'll second Wonder as a book well worth reading as well as a bit different in approach.

What about new tellings of old stories? There are some good ones of that sort out there.

[Cassie]

Thanks for all these great suggestions, guys! I have a lot of titles to bring to the table for consideration, and I'm certainly expanding my own reading list! :)

[Cheryl]

Actually, I don't think it is right for the OP. What was requested was books that were told through journals, letters, mix of graphic novel & narrative.

Your book looks like a regular narrative.

I just enjoyed Seek which is told through radio broadcasts, overheard dialogue, a school newspaper, a school report, etc etc.... But unfortunately it is about a decade too old for the OP.

[Anderson]

Cheryl wrote: "Actually, I don't think it is right for the OP. What was requested was books that were told through journals, letters, mix of graphic novel & narrative.

Your book looks like a regular narrative.

..."
ah I see. I thought it was for books that were unique and promoted "outside the box" plots or characters :) I just looked up Seek and it looks fantastic!! I will check that out. I'm a fan of the old radio shows and the hypnotic crackle of records.

[Rebecca]

I have in fact deleted your book post, Anderson, and would request that your read our policies about authors posting on their own books.

[Jennifer]

I would recommend Adam Gidwitz's A Tale Dark and Grimm. He breaks the fourth wall and interrupts the story to the reader. My 6-8 students love that and the truly grim stuff that occurs in the book.

[Jemima]

Marty wrote: "Cassie wrote: "Hi! I am a children's librarian, and I work with a middle school book group that meets monthly. Each month we pick a genre or theme and offer four titles for the kids to choose from ..."
Marty, please read the guidance for authors on the forum and only promote your book in the Authors Corner and Offers areas. Thank you.

[Marty]

My mistake...so sorry.

[Courtney]

Sophia wrote: "The NeverEnding Story by Ende

- my favorite :)"

i love this movie. This reminds me to go check out the book too.

[Lea Ann]

A Tale Dark & Grimm Kids love it.

[A.B.]

Sam wrote: "I've seen kids reading the latest Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Wonder was well-received, and I just finished the first Fablehaven (of five books), the first which was published in 2006 but I think the las..."

Yes! I second this wholeheartedly. I don't know what it is about those Wimpy Kid books, but I have a little one who is going crazy for these and carries all the books around in a bag and is reading them in order every time he gets a new one. :)